Key action and key mechanism



Sept. 20, 1927. 1,643,203

' v 0. U. DESHA Filed Nov. 5, 1925 2 SheetsS'neet l7 1,643,203 S 1927' o. u. DESHA KEY ACTION AND KBY-MECHANI ZSM Filed Nov. 5, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

I I amazes Parent rric;

ORVILLE U. DESHA, orronr COLLINS, cotoneno, ASSIGNOR or onn rir'rn To THE DESHA TYIYELEXV raosriis'rarn, o'rronr COLLINS, eoLoaAno.

7 KEY ACTION AND KEY MECHANIST/li.

Application filed November 5, 1923. Serial No. 672,871.

My invention. relates to key-action and key. mechanism 'for typewriters of-the conven-. tional class and other type-bar and key-. operating machines, thetype-bar andkeylever being so connectedwith atrip link coupling, comprising two connected links,on e

above with which'in' the main is in the.

nature of a structure that may readilybeincorporated in certain typewriting machines with onlyslight modification'of the structural features of said machines as they now exist. I have shown my invention embed ied, in the present instance, in a typewriter similar to the Underwood Standard machine, and in which. the invention may be readily incorporated by slight modification ofthe,

structural features of the machine in effecting such incorporation. It. should be understood, however, that the invention isnot restricted to use in a machine ofthistype,

but may be employed whereverfound available. The desired prlnciple ofoperation, new

mechanical functions, operative expedients,

and other objects andadvantages will'hereinafter be described in the following disclosure and. will be more particularly pointed out in the appending claims. In the ac companying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various views.

In the drawing Figure I, is a vertical section of a typewriter, one key-action only being shown in normal position; Fig. 11, represents a view of the key-mechanism similar to Fig. I, the key-lever being shown depres ed and responding the type-bar. Fig. III, also key-mechanism similar to Fig. 1', the key-lever being shown in a depressed position and the type-bar returned to its initial position. Fig. IV is a skeleton view of the key-mechanism for illustrative purposes in describing the mode of operation of the machine shown, It is understood, of course, that for the sake. of clearness and to avoid complication'of drawings the applicant has omitted toshow the remainder ofthe keylevers and type-bars as'well as other devices necessary or advisable in the completemachine, 1

In the embodiment in Fig. I, 1' indicates the frame of a typewriter 1 indicates the front andl the rear, having a common power driving. paper carriage 2 supported in the rear on guide rod 8 and in fronton guide rod 4; 5 indicates the common platen carried by the paper carriage 2; .6 indicates oneof the usual type-bars carrying the type 7 at its front end, and having the usual pin and slot connection 8 and 8 at the heel of the "rear end, and is arranged to turn on pivot 9 in the form of a segment disposed vertically below the frame face of the plate 10, thereby providing the type 7 with acommon printing point A; thetype-bar 6 turns on pivot 9 from the normal horizontal position of rest on the segment 11 inthe usual manner. p I

12 indicates one of the duangula-r keylevers carrying at the front end finger-key 18, the rear end pivotedxat 14 to bar 14* Fig. I, in the rear of the machine, and is kept normally in its elevated position by the usual spring 15 supported by bar 15 at normal rest of key-lever, bearing against the underside of stop-bar 15 above the key-lever 12. The duangularkey-lever 12'isformed with double angle (duangular) 16 and 16 arranged to provide a forward under angle seat 17 fora. coupling pivot hereinafter described, andalso provides a rear upward 95 angle for pivot rod 19 and bar 20.

The key-lever 1.2 is describedas having two incidents of operation, namely: the incidentof depression and the incident of release. closed by themovement of 'duangular keylever 12 from radius B to radius C, and the incident of release is disclosed by the movement of the duangular key-lever 12 back from radius G-to radius B. The type-bar 6 is described as having two incidents of operation, namely: incident of re ponse and the incident of recoil. The incident of re sponse of'the type-bar 6 is disclosed by the movement of the type-bar from its initial 110 The incident of depression is disiii rest radius E to the printing point A, radius F, forming arc G from pivot 9. The incident of recoil oi type-bar 6 is disclosed by its movement from the printing point A back to normal rest E. These incidents of operation are, of course, common in typebar action so far as the incident oi response,

invention relative to the correlation of inci dents of operation :ot the duangular "lie-ylever with that of the type-bar, is in providing the operativeexpedient by which both the incidentot response, E to Amt the typebar and the incident of recoil, A to E, occur during the one incident of depression, B to C, of the duangutlar key-lever: This operative expedient is accompli hed in this :case, by a trip link coupling being the "principal subject matter of this application, connecting the key-lever with the type-bar, hereinai'ter further described. i

18 indicates one of a series of vertically disposed vibratory levers, corresponding in number with the type-bars 6 end 'duan'gular keydevers 12. Lower ends of the vertically disposed vibratory levers 18 are pivoted art 19 in a bar 20 extending :across the machine above and within the rear and upward angle 01'? said dua-ngular key-lever.

22 an angular-1y formed draw link and 23 is a dependingthrust link of said trip link coupling,which connects the type-bar with the duangular key-lever.

Intermediately of the ends ot the angular formed draw link 22 is pivoted at :25 the end ot vertically disposed lever- 18, and the lower end of the angular formed draw link :22 crosses the key-lever 12 intermediately its ends and is pivoted at 24eto the lower end ot the depending thrust link 23, the upper end of the dependingthrust link 23beia 1g pivoted. at 26 to the duangular hey-lever 12 inte=rniediately of angles 16 and 16 and on opposite sideoii' skeydever to that of the angular formed draw link 22,

The pivotal manner of coupling the typebar and key-lever discloses a :trip li nk coupling having all links connected as a contradistinetiron between devices comprising a detachable connectionor gap at some point between the key-lever and the type-bar alter said type-bar has been given the movement necessary to eflect the printing and before he key-lever has completed its movement.

The relative normal position of pivots 24-, 25 and 26 engaged in a line approxi" mately perpendicular to the key-lever 12, discloses the trip link coupling to be'perpendicularly disposed as distinguished from being engaged horizontal to the key-lever.

It will be observed that links 22 and 23 constituting the trip link coupling operate vin a plane crossing the key-lever. Also link 22 operates. in front of ,pivot 19 and cross bar20 which discloses said trip link coupling to be frontly disposed.

normally in positionrshown LlIl Figqlgthereby returning the type-bar 6 to normal pos1- tion E :afteroperation; and finally it returns 7 the key-lever 1.2.to normal positioned rest when the common spring 15 shall have been eliminated. Hence the energy stored by depressing the duanguflar key-lever 12 and responding theatype-bar "6 in opposition to the tension of the return spring 27 returns both the "type-bar and key-lever to normal position, constituting the novel function of said element 27.

28 is :anwextended trip toe of the angula formed draw link 22, and is designated as a fulcrum-trip toe, pivot 24: being the fulcrum point about which the angular draw link 22 turns in cooperating with trip-rod 30 in moving the lower end of the depending thrust link forwardly out ofseat 17. The trip-rod 30 is composed of a round metal core 30, extending racrossthe machine on which are strung a series of frictionless rollers or hands bead-like fashion, corresponding to the uumberot keys in the machine, each band communicating with each fulcrum trip toe. Draw link 22 cooperates with return rod :29, Figklll in restoring the coupling to normal position during the in cident of release of the duanguilar 'keylever 12. p p

The new mechanical structure, movements and operation thereof are the important factors of the invention in providingthe desired function of the key-action. A further description :of "the operative principle, therefore, diollows: The geometric circle H H, Fig. IV, with a vertically inclined .diame'trical line J J from the'pivots 124 to 25 circumscribes What is termed the actuating plane.

Pivot 24 is designated as the lower border pivot of the actuating plane and pivot 25 is designated 'asthe upper border pivot. The vertically inelineddiametrica'l line J J of the actuating :plane, from, the lower border pivot 24 to the upper border pivot 25, indicates the divert tension line and divides the actuating plane into the forward zone of response and the rear zone of reaction L; the .forwaircl zone of response K having INK) from radius E to radius F while the deangular key-lever 12 'is being depressed from radius B to radius D; and the'rear zone of reaction L having to do with the recoil of the type-bar 6 from the printing point A to radius E at rest while the duangularkey lever 12 is being continually depressed from radius D to radius G of depression. The normal or idle position of the depending thrust link 23 operates in the forward Zone or response K as shown in Figs. I, II and IV. It is necessary that the angular formed draw link 22 be also of such length between pivots 24 and 25 and be in such form and so engaged in such fashion as to permit the in terior pivot 26 to oscillate between the lower border pivot 2-1 and the upper border pivot 25 in crossing and recrossing the divert tension line J J. The angular formed draw link 22, there'tore, is the major in length of the trip link coupling, and the depending thrust link 23 is the minor. In this case, the elements 22 and 23 ot' the trip link coupling are folded t during the incident of depression from radius B to radius D of the duangular keylever 12 and simultaneously with the incident of response of type-bar 6 from radius E to printing point A; and the link told elements 22 and 23 untold during the remainder of depression, radius D to radius G of the duangular key-lever 12 simultane ously with the recoil ot type-bar 6 from printing point A back to radius E.

The angle stop seat 17 provided by the duangular key-lever 12 stops the lower border pivot 24 and effects responsive or operative tensionlock of the depending thrust link 23 under influence of returning spring 27 as the duangularkey-lever 12 is being depressed t'rom radius B to radius D. This operative tension-lock of the depending thrust link 23 is also'described as contractive tension-lock or thrust meaning that while the duangular key-lever 12 is being depressed, the energy required to r-espond'the type-bar 6 effects contractive pressure or thrust from interior pivot 26 to lower border pivot 2a instead of expansive tension or pull.' The con tractive tension of the depending thrust link 23 stops its oscillation and is moved endwise downward with the duangular key-lever 12, as shown in Fig. II, as the vertically disposed vibratory lever 18 throws the upper border pivot 25 forward until the interior pivot 26 crosses the divert tension line J J into the rear Zone of reaction L. Simultaneously with contractive tension-lock of depending thrust link 23, the angular formed draw link22 operates under expans ve tension between the lower border pivot 24: and the upper border pivot 25 while the duangular key-lever 12 is being depressed from radius B to radius D to respo'ndthe typebar 6 from radius E to printing point A, and

the expansive tension of the angular formed draw link 22 being relaxed while the duangular key-lever 12 continues the incident of do line M M, Fig. I shows where-the tri-pivotal relationship forms obtuse ai'igle at the in terror pivot 26 pointing forward wlthin the forward Z0118 of response during normal position and effecting response of the typebar duringdepression ot key-lever. Dotted line M M, F II shows the-alignment of the tri-pivotal relationship at the time the typebar completes its response or impact and begins to recoil. Dotted line M M, Fig. III shows the obtuse angle at interior pivot 26 termed by the tri-pivotal relationship pointed back vards within the zone of reaction as the type-bar recoils. I

Inherent to the common key-action certain key-levers accidentally and slightly depressed part way down suspend their respectivetypc-bars along the type-arc G interfering or piling withthe response and recoil of intentionally struck keys; but the present invention provides the exigency that when the finger key 13 is slowly depressed, the type 7 responds to the degree-on arc G correspond ing to the radius of depression of the duangular key-lever l2 and from there they automatically recoil without having impact with the platen. This is an inherent exigency of my invention referred to as the operative expedient by which type-bars responding to slowly depressed keys part way down automatically recoiled without interfering with responding type. This operative expedient is accomplished by plate 31 designated as recoil timer plate, having slot 32 and slot pivot 33 fastened tightly therein and turning in hole in the duangular keylever 12 and set screw 3 L tastened to the side of the duangular key-lever 12, having a head larger thanslot 32 but body of screw being much smaller than slot 32 permitting plate 31 to slightly drop lower than the lower edge of said duangular key lever and slightly oscillate on pivot 33 when it strikes theitop'oit triprod 30. The type-bar having no momentum when the duangular key-lover is being slowly depressed, recoil timer plate 31 pushes the depending thrust-link 23 torward out of tension lock about the time "the type 7 raises two-thirds of are G and without impacting printing point A it drops back to E. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a typewriting ma hine, a type bar, a key lever. actuating means at all t mes op'eratively connecting the type bar and key lever to move the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means actuating said connection to return the type bar after the printing impact while the key lever is in depressed position. it

.2. In a typewriting machine, a typebar, a key lever, a reversely breaking actuating connection operatively connecting the key lever and type bar for moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said connection after the printing impact to return the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position.

3. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, a key lever, actuating means at all times operatively connecting the type bar and key lever comprising a trip link coupling for moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of said type bar for return of the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position.

4. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, key lever, a reversely breaking actuating connection at all times operatively connecting the key lever and'type bar comprising a trip link coupling to move the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact for returning the type bar to normal position while the key lever is indepressed position.

5. In a typewriting machine, a key lever con'iprising an upward and lower angles interlnediately of its ends, a type bar, a trip link coupling at all times operatively connecting said key lever and type barcomprising an angular formed draw link and a depending thrust link for moving said type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lev r; a vertically disposed vibratory lever, a pivotal rod for lower end of said vertically disposed vibratory lever, a pivot connecting the upper end of said-vertically disposed vibratory lever to the angular formed draw link intermediately of its ends, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means for the return of the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means for restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

6. in a type key action, a key lever comprising an upward angle and a lowerangle, a type bar, a trip link coupling at all times opcratively connecting the key lever and type bar comprising an angular formed draw link, a depending thrust link pivoted intermediatelyof the ends of said key lever and connecting said draw link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of key lever, a vertically disposed vibratory coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

7. In combination, a key lever comprising an upward angle in therear and a lower angle forwardly thereof, a type bar, a seg mental pivot rod therefore, a trip link coupling comprising an angular formed draw link pivoted to the type bar, a depending thrust link pivoted to the draw link and to the key lever moving the type, bar to printing point upon depression of key lever,'a vertically disposed vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end within the upper angle of said key lever, a pivot connecting the upper end of said vertically disposed vibratory lever to the side :of said angular draw link diverting the movement of the latter forwardly, means reversely breaking said cou pling after printing impact of the type bar, means restoring the type bar to normal posi tion while key lever is in depressed position, means restoringsaid coupling to normal operative position upon release of said key lever. i 1 8. In a typewriter or like machine, a key lever comprising-a key, a fulcrum rod on which the key lever is pivoted, a trip link coupling comprising an angular formed draw link connected to a vertically disposed vibratory lever and a depending thrust link depending from said key lever intermediately of the angles thereof and connected to said draw link, a type bar with operative pin and slot connection with the angular formed draw link moving to printing point upon depression of key lever, a vertically disposed vibratory lever connected to an angular formed draw link, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

' 9. In a type key action for a typewriting machine, a type bar, a. pivot therefore, an angular formed draw link connected to the type bar, a key lever with two angles interinediately of its ends, a depending thrust link pivotally depending intermediately the angles of said key lever, a pivot beneath said key lever czonnecting said draw link and thrust link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, a vibratory lever extending upwardly from its pivot and connecting said draw link intermediately of the ends of the latter actuating same forwardly, means reversely breaking said coulping after the printing impact of i the type bar for returning the type bar to normal position "while key lever is in de pressed position, means restoring said cou-- pling to normal operatlve posit on upon rechines, a type bar, anangular formed draw" link connected to said type bar, a depending thrust link connected to saidangular formed draw link, a key lever,an under stop restfor lower end connection of said angular draw link and depending thrustvlink, said elements moving the type bar to, printing point upon depression of key lever, a vertically disposed vibratory lever actuated for wardly by a draw link, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

11. In a type key mechanism, a key lever having two angles intermediately of its ends, a depending thrust link pivoted at the side of the key lever intermediately of the angles of the latter,,a type bar, an angular formed draw link pivoted to said type'bar and ex tending downwardly crossing said keylever and pivoted to, the depending thrust'link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, a vertically disposed vibratorylever pivota-lly operated by the angular formeddraw link vibrating the latter forwardly reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed'position, means restoring said-coupling to normaloperative position upon release of the key lever. V v I 12. In a type key mechanism, a type bar, a key lever having an upper rear-angle and a lower forward angle, a trip link coupling comprising an angular formed draw link and a depending thrust link engaged on the opposite sides of the key lever, a pivot connecting said angular formed draw link and 7 depending thrust link beneath said key lever oscillating within said lower-forward angle thereof moving thetype bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever,

a vertically disposed vibratory lever having pivotal connections with the angular draw link vibrating the upper end of the latter forwardly, means breaking reversely said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to 7 normal position while the key lever is in delit) pressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

13. In a key action mechanism, a keylever, a depending thrust link extending downward from said key lever, an angular formed draw link disposed substantially perpendicular to said key lever crossing the latter intermediately of its ends and pivoted to said depending thrust link, a type bar with a pin and slot connection" with the upper end of said angular formed draw link moving to printing point upon depression of the key lever, a vertically disposed'vibratory lever, upper end thereof pivoted intermediately the ends of said angular formed draw link, a

pivot rod for said vertically. disposed vibra-.-

tory lever engaged within an upward-1'ear angle of said key lever, means breaking reversely said mechanism after the printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed positioinmeans restoring said coupling to normal operative tion upon release of'the key lever.

14. In a typewriting machine, anangular formed draw link with forwardly disposed vertex, a vertically disposed vibratory lever connected to said angular formed draw link,

akey lever comprising a rear upward angular space for the lower end of said vertically disposed vibratory lever, a depending thrust link pivotally depending from-said key le ver, a p1vot connecting the lower end of said angular formed draw link to the lower end of said depending thrust link. operating within a lower forward angle of said key lever, a type bar directly operated by saidangularformed. draw link moving to print-J ing point upon depression of the key lever, means breaking reversely said coupling afterthe printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is. in depressed position,- means restoring said coupling to normal operative position .upon release of said key lever.

' 15. In a typewriting machine, a trip link coupling comprising arelatively-long angu lar formed draw link and a relative short depending thrust link pivoted thereto, a type bar pivoted to the upper end of said angular formed draw link, a vertically disposed vibratory lever pivoted intermediately of the ends of said angularformed draw link, a key lever pivoted to said depending thrust link for responding the type bar to print-V ing point; upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking sa d coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means recoilingjthe type bar while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever. i

16. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, a key lever, an angular formed draw link, a depending thrust link pivoted thereto, a vertically disposed vibratory lever actuating said angular formed draw link for,

wardly moving the type bar to printing oint upon depression of the key lover, 'a fulcrum trip toe comprising the lower end of posi' said angular formed drawclink, a trip rod communicating with said fulcrum triptoe reversely breaking said couplinga'ltei' printing impact of the type bar, means restoring saidkey lever,-a draw link moving said typebar to printing point upon depression of key lever a vertically disposed vibratory lever controlling the movement of said angularformed draw link, a fulcrum trip toe com-V prising the lower end oi said angular formed draw link cooperating with trip rod breakingreversely said coupling after the print ing impact oi the type bar-,merms returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring' said coupling to normal operative position upon release oi the key lever,

l 18. In a key action for a typewriting machine, a type bar, a key lever, a depending thrust link pivoted to said key lever, an angular formed draw link pivoted to said thrust link, a vertically disposed vibratory lever controlling the action of said angular i orined draw link for responding the type bar to printing pointupon depression of the key lover, a fulcrum trip toe provided by said draw link, a trip rod communicating with said fulcrum trip. toe breaking reversely said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, a return spring connecting said key lever and angular formed draw link returning the type bar to normal position while said key lever is held depressed and elevating said key leverto normal position upon its release, means restoring said cou pling' to normal operative position upon release of the key lever. 19., In a mechanical movement for a typewriter key, a type bar, a key lever, a triplink coupling coinprisinga thrustlink and a draw link at all times operatively connect ing the key lever and type bar, a vibratory lever controlling the movement of said con 7 pling, a border pivot connecting said draw i of said coupling responding said type bar to printing point upon depression of said key lever, an alignment of said border pivots ink to. said vibratory lever at the border of an operative plane, another border pivot and initeriorzprivotrupon: printing impact said: type bar, it changing reversely said piv .otal relationship within a zone of reaction returning said type bar toxnomnal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling tonormal op erative position upon release of the key lever-LY.

2.0. In amechanical movement for a typewriter-key',l atype bar, a key lever, a trip; link coupling comprising depending thrust link and an angular formed draw link connecting the key lever and type bar, a vertically disposed vibratory lever controlling the nliovemen-t of said coupling, an upper border pivotconnecting said draw link to said vibratory lever at theupper border of an operative plane, alower border pivot connecting said depending thrust link to said draw link at thelower border of said operative plane,an interiorpivot connecting said depending thrust link tosaid key lever interior of said operative plane and Within a forward zone of response during normal position of said coupling responding said type barto printing pomt" upon depression saidcoupling to normal operative position upon release-of the key'lever'. o

21; a key action for a typwriting 1na:-. ch ne, a type. bar, keyjlever; a trip link con lin corn risin an -ular formed draw link and a depending thrust link, a return spring supported by the angular formed drawv link and key lever moving in opposition to the tension thereof, a recoil timer plate operatively pivoted at'the side of said key lever, front end communicating with said depending thrust link and lower edge extending slightly lower than the key lever, a trip rod extending laterallybeneath said key lever-communicating with the lower edgeof saidjrecoil timer plate reversely breaking said coupling returning the type bar to normal position without printing im pactuponthe slowly depression of the 'key lever, a returnbar above the key lever communicating with the angular formed draw link returning said coupling to normal po sition upon release of the key lever.

Signed at Fort Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, this 1st day of December A. D. 1926.

ORVILLE U; DESI-IA. 

